Billy Pearce and Darren Day to headline panto

Billy Pearce and Darren Day

Published:06:00Saturday 02 April 2016

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His cry of “Hi-ya kids!” has become as synonymous with Christmas as sleigh bells and crackers and Billy Pearce will once again be delighting family audiences when he lines up for his 18th Bradford pantomime at the Alhambra Theatre later this year.

He leads the cast of Peter Pan as Smee in a show which features pirates, a high-flying hero and lots of laughs from the multi award-winning actor and comedian.

The Yorkshire comic will be joined on the bill by Darren Day as Captain Hook in the panto, which runs from Saturday December 17 to Sunday January 29, 2017.

Day has had a varied career having starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, Summer Holiday, Godspell and White Christmas at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2014, as well as numerous UK tours.

He has also hosted You Bet! and Don’t Try This at Home for ITV and appeared in The Bill and Holby City. Earlier this year he came third in Celebrity Big Brother, released his album This is the Moment and is currently starring as Tick in the UK tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Peter Pan marks the second time he and Pearce have worked together, having performed alongside each other in the UK tour of Stand Up – The Musical.

Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division said: “We are delighted Billy is back in Bradford once again, and to bring Darren with him is a great coup.

“Darren is a fantastic singer and actor, and an extremely talented impressionist, so Peter Pan will be packed full of laugh-out-loud comedy.”

Adam Renton, General Manager of Bradford Theatres, said: “There’s no doubt that our fantastic headline cast, along with the return of 3D, sets Peter Pan up to be another unmissable Alhambra Theatre pantomime – there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

“The fact that so many people see our pantomime each year is testimony to the huge affection Bradford audiences feel for the Alhambra Christmas show. We’re sure that when we go on sale in April, tickets will prove very popular.”

Tickets go on sale to Bradford Theatres Friends members and group bookers on April 4 and will be available on general sale from April 18.